 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Bob Sparkman
Date: 2001-01-09 13:42
Hey guys and gals!!! The first of Ken Burns' 10 hour series on Jazz appeared on PBS last night and was marvelous! Tonight will largely feature Louis Armstrong and should be important viewing and listenng for anyone at all interested in Jazz, and especially for clarinet players who want to find out how the early players graced the sound of that beautiful and exciting music. They will probably play some of the Louis records with King Oliver, and Louis' Hot Fives and Sevens, on which clrinetist Johnny Dodds played so important a part. Great viewing, comment and listening. Wynton Marsalis is prominently featured, and his analysis, based as it is on a deep love for, and understanding of jazz, is probably the best source of Jazz education available anywhere. Don't miss it!!!
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2001-01-09 14:03
Great stuff! The first episode covered the very beginnings, before any recordings were made. The second episode, according to the preview, is mostly about Louis Armstrong, so it should be full of his wonderful early recordings.
Not to be missed.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2001-01-09 14:38
Yes, by all means DONT MISS IT, or invest in the recordings . I want to scan the book since I have quite a few "jazz" books , so I can assess the added information. I can vaguely recall some of the '20's jazz and Michigan musicians, but have clear recollection of the growth of the "big bands", before Goodman, Shaw, Miller, the Dorseys, Lombardo, King etc/etc. I started playing in pick-up bands after earning $135 [in grocery store clerking] to buy my first alto sax, a silver-plated Buescher in 1935. Many one-night-stand dances-concerts were held in Flint drawing big crowds. Ah, Memories [as that song goes] , Don
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Author: donn
Date: 2001-01-09 14:57
Would someone let me know what time EST on PBS?
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Author: Stuart A. Inselman
Date: 2001-01-09 14:59
The program last night was really very inciteful. Very well done. A few weeks ago I purchased the 5 c.d. set entitled "Ken Burns Jazz, The Story of American Music".
Some of the pieces aren' t the best quality, however they are redos of very old recordings. The set comes with a very good book explaining the beginnings and pictures of many of the performers.
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Author: larryb
Date: 2001-01-09 15:56
I'm looking forward to tonight's segment on Louis (9:00pm EST). I must admit that I found last night's segment to be OK (not Okeh) - it went over the usual ground in a somewhat tedious manner. Most of the talking heads were ponderous (I've seen Wynton's schtick before, and this was much the same). The academics seem to believe that when people create, perform or learn music they are making some kind of grand self-conscious statement about what it means to be an American. In fact, the musicians depicted in the film were/are incredibly talented, skilled artists who were trying to achieve the highest levels of expression and craftsmanship (what we all try to do all the time in our clarinet playing and practicing). That they had to do all this against incredibly odds (racism, poverty, cultural resistance) is amazing.
Too much emphasis on Buddy Bolden (no one alive has ever heard him, must of the accounts are hyperbolic).
What ever happened to Scott Joplin? In the segment on ragtime he's never mentioned!
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Author: Bob Arney
Date: 2001-01-09 16:07
Joplin WAS mentioned, but only in passing by the white man who arranged his music for the music on "The Sting" and others. He didn't even get his honorable mention in ragtime's development. Is there another program devoted to him, or at least his involvement in the classical structure motiefs?
I agree too much attention was paid to Boulden, but all seem to agreee that he was the mainspring behind the Jazz development (except that dude from New York who insisted if it aint white it's nothing.)
PS. This is not a race thing (I'm white) but if that's what it takes I'd love to "play black."
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Author: herb
Date: 2001-01-09 21:33
...and according to the Sunday NY Times review, don't expect to gain any insight into jazz developments after the 'fifties. As if nothing of consequence occurred since then.
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Author: Bob Sparkman
Date: 2001-01-10 10:08
Hey Herb - I caught a Burns/Marsalis interview with Charlie Rose yesterday in which Burns explained that what he was doing with the series was hstory, and that the last 25 years was too recent, and still too ongoing, to be history, which seems reasonable. I'm sure the series has weaknesses, but nothing has been done like it before in jazz, and at that, it is a unique achievement. In fact, it is, for me, a bit heavy on the sociology, but finding the shining core of great jazz has always been a search through thorns and bushes. It's always worth it!!
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Author: larryb
Date: 2001-01-10 16:08
Bob - as far as Louis goes at least, I thought the earlier PBS program "Satchmo" with accompanying book by Gary Giddins was much better than last night's episode on Pops. At least "Satchmo" gave more time to the musical and video clips - and none of the endless period panoramas of Chicago and New York, or clip after clip of flappers flapping. How dare Burns cut away from Armstrong's solo on Tiger Rag! That's one of the most intense pieces of film ever. And why so much Marsalis, Crouch, and Giddens constantly repeating themselves? There must have been so much more of Doc Cheatham, Milt Hinton and Benny Waters - the guys who were actually there - that would add so much more to the program than the gushing talking heads.
Paul Whiteman? Bennie Moten and Andy Kirk were already recording in Kansas City during the period covered by this segment - they should have been there.
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Author: Bob Sparkman
Date: 2001-01-10 17:40
Yeah Larry, you are 100% correct on all points. I guess, having lived thru the 1940's traditional vs. modern wars, I'm inclined to be thankful for anything about Jazz that gets to the public at large. That was an ugly time, with racial overtones, and I'm loath to pick at a major effort to redress that --- tho' there ain't much "reconciliation" in much of the text of the Burns thing. I guess, also, I hope it will get better as it goes on. Hope springs eternal!! Incidently, I had the real privilege of working a lot with Doc Cheatham in the 70's. What a thrill! Nice man and elegant player. I believe there is more stuff with him on film which may show up later in the series --- I sure hope so. And please forgive my equanimity over the Burns stuff. It comes with old age! But Thanks! Best regards. Bob
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Author: jerry
Date: 2001-01-10 23:30
"That they had to do all this against incredibly odds (racism, poverty, cultural resistance) is amazing."
I totally agree. I feel they did what they did because of circumstances. I saw the (I believe) first part last night and I too thought that it was a bit weighted on the social issues. However, I suppose that part is necessary to put things in perspective. I hope tonight's show is much better - more on the individual artists. I think they are starting with Louie A. tonight. I'm getting the program via satilite (PBS Denver I believe).
~ jerry
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Author: THE Big J
Date: 2001-01-11 21:01
I watched it last night, and found it very interesting. I'm not really into jazz, although I like it once in a while. Some of the music was awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-Jeanie
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Author: Bob Arney
Date: 2001-01-12 03:17
There was an interesting little Klezmer bit during the opening the Chicago bit and the childhood of Artie Shaw. Maybe Nate or somebody can identify it. Wish it had been longer.
Bob A
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Author: Bob Arney
Date: 2001-01-17 01:26
IMHO that segment on Benny Goodman last night was well worth the price for the whole series---now, only if my wife would see it that way.
Bob A
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